Irish students as likely to try drugs as tobacco

As many students have tried an illegal drug as have tried smoking, according to a study to be launched today.

The National Student Drug survey shows 82% of respondents have taken illegal drugs at some stage in their lives — the same figure as those that have smoked at least once.

The anonymous online survey, carried out between October and December last year and which received 2,700 responses, also found that 92% of students have tasted alcohol at least once.